Chamber and committees

NatureScot and Scottish Forestry will lead consultation with stakeholders to examine how they use the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory and identify barriers to its use. This work will inform a stakeholder requirements catalogue, which will guide development and delivery of the Register.

The new Register of Ancient Woodlands is scheduled to be published in the late summer of 2027.

As of June, there has been 51 cases raised with the Procurator Fiscal in 2026. There were 26 cases reported in 2025 and 14 in 2024.

As per answer for S7W-01554 The Loch Lomond Byelaws, which came into force on 1 November 2024, contain the following powers in relation to jet skis and powered vessels:

• Mandatory User Registration – any person in charge of a powered vessel (including jet skis) must register their personal details and vessel with the National Park Authority. Registered vehicles must display the unique, highly visible identification stickers;
• Low Speed Zones – Vessels (jet skis) must stay below 6 kph in Low Speed Zones to avoid generating a wake and prevent collisions with paddleboarders and swimmers. These are located in high-traffic or mixed use areas of the loch at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallachy and Rowardennan. There is also a speed limit of 11kph around the southern islands;
• If an alleged byelaw contravention is assessed to be worthy of charging an individual, LLTNPA will report the case directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which can result in a defendant gaining a criminal record if they are found guilty.

The Loch Lomond Byelaws, which came into force on 1 November 2024, contain the following powers in relation to jet skis and powered vessels:

• Mandatory User Registration – any person in charge of a powered vessel (including jet skis) must register their personal details and vessel with the National Park Authority. Registered vehicles must display the unique, highly visible identification stickers;
• Low Speed Zones – Vessels (jet skis) must stay below 6kph in Low Speed Zones to avoid generating a wake and prevent collisions with paddleboarders and swimmers. These are located in high-traffic or mixed use areas of the loch at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallachy and Rowardennan. There is also a speed limit of 11kph around the southern islands;
• If an alleged byelaw contravention is assessed to be worthy of charging an individual, LLTNPA will report the case directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which can result in a defendant gaining a criminal record if they are found guilty.

The views of communities and other key stakeholders will be sought during the consultation outlined in the answer to question S7W-01577 on 23 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Register of Ancient Woodlands will provide up-to-date information on the location and condition of ancient woodlands, enabling decision-makers, including planners, to make effective decisions that support their protection. The Register will also help land managers identify ancient woodlands that require intervention and target management support more effectively.

A national programme of work to address recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland (IRASS) was concluded in 2025. A final report was produced which sets out how recommendations have either been implemented and completed, or embedded in longer term work programmes within the health and social care system.

This report is available at: Implementing-the-Recommendations-from-the-IRASS-March-2025.pdf.

Our 100 days prospectus includes a commitment to convene government, NHS Heads of Service, community audiology providers and stakeholders to set out an agreed plan to enhance community audiology services. This reflects our ongoing commitment to working with partners to determine how best to shift audiology care into the community.

The £36.9 million Alcohol and Drugs Fund is not additional to the funding announced in the Scottish Budget 2026-27. When the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan 2026-35 was published in March 2026, it was confirmed that delivery would be supported by funding of more than £160 million in 2026-27, including the launch of a new fund for frontline services and organisations working with people affected by alcohol and drugs.

The Fund will provide £36.9 million over the next three years, supporting prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery for people affected by alcohol and drugs.

There are currently 472 anaesthetist training positions across Scotland. This includes posts in Core Anaesthetics and Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) Anaesthetics, as well as in Anaesthetics higher specialty training.